Meth Hysteria and Your Sinuses

Nobody has ever gone broke betting against the U.S. government adopting a reasonable drug policy. The latest misstep: a new Senate bill that would make it even more difficult to purchase OTC sinus medications that contain ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.

Some of you have likely been through the ringer with these ingredients before. A number of drugstores such as CVS now require that customers buy cold medicine at the pharmacy counter, and that they swipe their driver’s license for the trouble. The aim, of course, is to reduce the number of times a given individual can purchase these medications, despite their manifest legality and low-wattage effects.

The underlying reason is meth hysteria, or the predominant belief among lawmakers that methamphetamine use and production is spiraling out of control. Never mind that a good many sources dispute the claim; at stake here is the comfort of legitimate sinus sufferers.

Supporters say the limits imposed by the bill would still provide law-abiding citizens with an ample supply of decongestants to treat a simple cold or allergies without a prescription. Opponents feel the provisions could be burdensome to chronic allergy sufferers or families with children as they are more likely to reach the threshold and have to pay for a doctor’s appointment to get the amount of the medicine they need.

The bill has already passed the Senate, and could become law in the coming days. Do you want to speak up about it? Contact your representatives today.